We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The TripAdvisor website may not display properly. We support the following browsers:
Windows:Internet Explorer,
Mozilla Firefox,
Google Chrome.
Mac:Safari.

Close to the Plunge Pool
Food.... Can Do... - Review of Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort

Was there recently and have been there on more than one occassion and its always romantic..The staff... ExcellentLocation....Beautiful with white sandy beachRooms.....cosy and romantic esp. 435 very close to the plunge poolFood.... Can do betterWiFi... Available with good speeds

Overall i always enjoy when i am there.... Feel completely at ease :)

Stayed September 2012, traveled as a couple

Value

Location

Sleep Quality

Rooms

Cleanliness

Service

Was this review helpful?Yes4

Problem with this review?

Ask Zulfikar H about Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

James C, Manager at Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort, responded to this review,
September 21, 2012

Thank you Zulfikar for your postive comments, we look forward to hosting you again.

kind regards

James ChegeGroup Sales Manager

Report response as inappropriate
Thank you. We appreciate your input.

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Just back from a holiday in the Jacaranda, brilliant location, very friendly staff, but the food was quite a let down, having come from the Masai Mara, where we had five star food, cooked in a tent. Rooms were clean and well maintained, with turn-down each night. Area around our house was spotless, cleaners at work there every morning at 7.0'clock. Breakfast was ok but dinner was very disappointing.

Room Tip: Make sure you get a room overlooking the ocean

See more room tips

Stayed August 2012, traveled with family

Location

Sleep Quality

Rooms

Cleanliness

Service

Was this review helpful?Yes1

Problem with this review?

Ask MAEDHBHIreland about Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Better than average, less than very good...Starting with the pros, the setting is gorgeous. Historical site, long white beach, beautifully built and designed rooms and buildings, all rooms ocean facing (ours opened right on to the beach!) it is a fabulous location. The service, too, is good quality - staff remember your names, remember orders, respond to queries/requests promptly and kindly. We arrived late evening, and one of the waiters in particular was very helpful (Dalmas). Similarly, at 7am the following morning we started talking with one of the groundsmen (Mohammed) who arranged our sunloungers, cushions etc in our chosen spot. We tipped the latter on the first day (instead of the last) and he ensured that our area was prepared at sunrise each morning.

Moving on to the cons: I hadn't read or heard anywhere of issues swimming, however when the tide was going out on the first day i cut myself twice on rocks. When the tide went out, we could see very large, jagged rocky plateaux. Once i saw those, I could identify a way out to sea without goign over them, but it was a huge disappointment (as I love swimming in the sea). Even after we arrived, reception should have mentioned this! Secondly, and probably more important to some, is the food. It's just not good enough. I've been to the Swahili coast before, and enjoyed myriad seafood dishes. It's barely on the menu at Jacaranda. Lunch is either a buffet upstairs, or a menu order down by the pool (mediocre pastas; overly processed burgers) and neither is impressive. Food is the biggest point loser for Jacaranda where it would be generous to say it's worthty of a 3-star hotel. Constant disappointment.Lastly, and this might not be a con for all - the 'Animation' each evening. Whilst it's nice to have a bit of entertainment and an opportunity to meet other residents, having pounding dance music reverberate throughout the grounds (we were at the far end) continuing past 11pm isn't my idea of a relaxing holiday. I could have gone to Ibiza for that. Other evenings were less intrusive with some talented dance troops, but again, why were the 'local' dances to a soundtrack of electronic and dance-pop music instead of swahili, masai or bantu? Most residents that we met were either from or going on safari, and most are interested in the general culture of east africa, kenya and the swahili coast. Opporunity massively lost by the Jacaranda. Music like Ladysmith Black Mombazo should be on the agenda instead.

However, rooms were lovely and comfortable, tv allowed us to glimpse some of the olympics; en-suite was lovely with powerful shower. Air-con is available for the warmer months, and of course a mosquito net hangs over the bed for your protection. he rooms, indeed the whole complex, is immaculately clean and clearly well cared for.

I would recommend staying here with the usual and interesting surroundings, and lovely staff team, but if I did it again it would be half board, not full. Take your meals elsewhere!

Stayed August 2012, traveled with family

Value

Location

Sleep Quality

Rooms

Cleanliness

Service

Was this review helpful?Yes1

Problem with this review?

Ask senzaparole03 about Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

We travelled by bus from Nairobi to Mombasa and then taxi to the hotel 12 hours in all due to a 3 hour traffic jam in Mombasa. Arrived at 10pm tired sweaty and hungry greeted by our first names by the reception staff with cold drinks and flannels. Our cases were taken to our rooms and then we were escorted to the restaurant for dinner where the staff served us with the most welcoming dinner! Back to our rooms to a good shower and the most comfortable beds.We awoke to an amazing view of the indian ocean and the most fantastic beach! We had a wonderful stay freindly staff good food and alovely room ideal place to chill and relax. Exellent service from beginning to end after a week we left early to catch the ferry and as requested a picnic breakfast was waiting for us at reception to take with us.Thankyou to all the staff for making us so welcome and making our holiday perfect.

Stayed July 2012, traveled with family

Value

Location

Sleep Quality

Rooms

Cleanliness

Service

Was this review helpful?Yes2

Problem with this review?

Ask Stella B about Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

James C, Manager at Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort, responded to this review,
October 5, 2012

Dear Stella,

We are delighted that you enjoyed your holiday with us. Thank you for the great feedback. At Jacaranda Indian ocean beach resort we always strive to ensure our guests enjoy our excellent African hospitality .

Best regards

James ChegeGroup Sales Manager

Report response as inappropriate
Thank you. We appreciate your input.

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

I'll start with positives: -Beautiful setting right on the ocean front. Could not describe how nice the setting is.-Breakfast was very good, the rest of the food was nothing special, but edible. -Bedroom was spacious, nicely decorated, decent shower.-Good size pool, could be a little bigger, but better than average. -The animation team, in particular Nickson & Andy, were a highlight. They never ceased to make us laugh and feel welcome. Unfortunately, this was not true of the some of the staff. Which leads me to the negatives:-The service was extremely slow, it was never busy for the amount of staff on. they would seat us promtly, then it would take over 5 minutes for them to take a drink order and meal order, then we would wait for the drinks as long as we wait for the starter, roughly 5-10 minutes. From starter-dessert food came out quickly, but no offer for drinks or how the meal was during.-The service was not accomadating, some exceptions; the 2 Humphries, Alex, another gentleman in the restaurant & Coconut Willy, nothing was too much for the people mentioned. -However, everything was too much for some of the staff. On one occasion my partner asked for a coffee, as it is advertised in the guest compendium that they serve complementory afternoon tea 4-5pm, the woman who she aksed then proceeded to roll her eyes, say something to her colleague, and walk off. It made my partner feel as if she had asked for too much, even though it is advertised by the hotel.-The wait for the food to come out, was extremely slow.-The first room we were given was littered with bugs. The first thing we saw was a cockroach run under the beside table. We mentioned this staright away to the, otherwise very helpful male receptionist, but after a brief look behind the bedside table bid us a good night, leaving the cockroach under the table! There was a big gap at the bottom of the door, where ants and spiders were crawling through. There was also a small snake, or similar, which shot across the room. We arrived very late and were very tired so did not want to move room so late,so suffered it for the night.-When we complained about the room, we were first told he would get exterminators in the room and then we could stay there, I insisted that we be moved to a 1st floor room, if nothing could be done. Which is what the receptionist did eventually. Again, we sat there waiting for a new room for 10-15 minutes, while he sat on the phone. Being from the hospitality industry, it would have been so much more convenient for everyone to move us straight away.

Our overall experience of Indian Ocean Beach Resort was ok, lovely setting, taintered by shortcoming in service. I believe that there was a huge lack of management presence throughout the hotel, apart from the (I assume) manageress of the restaurant, who was very good, but some of her staff let her down. There was middle aged/elderly lady who we saw throughout our stay who seemed to be either an owner or director of the hotel (I may be very wrong), who seemed to boss everyone around, hence my assumption. If she is high up in the hotel, then she is not setting a good example to staff with regards to being accomodating, friendly, efficient & fast. She seemed to make the staff's job harder & stress them out, rather than support and guide them. The bottom line is that the hotel is lacking real leadership. It would a fantastic attraction if it tends to these very fixable shortcomings.

Room Tip: Choose first floor room, if you dont want to risk too much bugs

See more room tips

Stayed June 2012, traveled as a couple

Value

Location

Sleep Quality

Rooms

Cleanliness

Service

Was this review helpful?Yes4

Problem with this review?

Ask Elliot S about Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Great location, the breeze from the ocean is soothing. Hotel is so peaceful ,good place for relaxing.Our room was very spacious however needs consistent maintainance.Bathroom sink and bathtub were stained, and on certain days there was no running water in the room. Great pool, wish it was bigger though and would be better if there was a baby pool too.Food wasn't nice at all, need for great improvement.Staff are great.

Room Tip: Ocean front rooms have a fantastic view of the ocean

See more room tips

Stayed June 2012, traveled with family

Value

Location

Sleep Quality

Rooms

Cleanliness

Service

Was this review helpful?Yes1

Problem with this review?

Ask jordana k about Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

The staff have a way of making one feel at home. They are very friendly. I loved the rooms; very clean, very serene, and I was lucky to have one so close to the water. :)The view is awesome - watching the sunrise especially was a treat. While I enjoyed my stay at the hotel, I had found fault with the food quality. In comparison to hotels in their class, Jacaranda IOBC is ranking poorly. The hotel management may want to seek the services if a better chef.

Stayed June 2012, traveled on business

Value

Location

Sleep Quality

Rooms

Cleanliness

Service

Was this review helpful?Yes2

Problem with this review?

Ask AdhiamboC about Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Expedia, Travelocity and Despegar.com so you can book your Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.

Also Known As:

Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Club Hotel Diani

Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Hotel

Indian Ocean Beach Club

Owners: What's your side of the story?

If you own or manage Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort, register now for free tools to enhance your listing, attract new reviews, and respond to reviewers.

* TripAdvisor LLC is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site... (more)

We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The TripAdvisor website may not display properly. We support the following browsers:
Windows:Internet Explorer,
Mozilla Firefox,
Google Chrome.
Mac:Safari.

TripAdvisor LLC is not responsible for content on external web sites. Taxes, fees not included for deals content.